It might not seem that long ago since Karim Benzema was picking up the 2022 Ballon d’Or, but the race for the 2023 award has already picked up plenty of steam.
It promised to be a unique Ballon d’Or battle, with the World Cup taking place in the middle of the 2022-23 campaign, meaning it could be a distant memory by the time votes are cast.
There is no doubt, however, that playing a starring role in Qatar has boosted some players’ chances of competing for the Golden Ball ahead of the return of the Champions League in the past weeks.
Who, then, has put themselves in the frame for the biggest individual honour of them all, and who has some catching up to do?
Join GOAL as our 12-month Ballon d’Or Power Rankings journey continues…
